Dedham Students Vote in Mock Caldecott Election

The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually, to the artist of the most distinguished picture book for children, published in the U.S. Now in it's 75th year, the Caldecott Medal is named in honor of the famous nineteenth-century English illustrator, Randolph Caldecott. 

Thanks to a generous grant from the Dedham Education Foundation, almost 1,100 students from the town's four elementary schools, got to participate in a “mock” Caldecott election recently.

Maureen Tannetta (Greenlodge), Wendy Garland (Avery), Meghan Nels (Oakdale), and Ingrid Mayyasi (Riverdale), got together and chose 5 books for their students to review. During their regularly scheduled school library times, the students were encouraged to consider “what made the books interesting to look at?” They were then asked “how did the illustrations aid in telling the story?” 

The selections for this election were: Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and Rick Leider, Because America Smiled by David Ezra Stein, and Boy and Bot by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. 

In the end, with the votes of all four schools counted, Z is for Moose was chosen the school's winner! Thanks to the DEF grant, each school library was able to add distinguished picture books and award winning titles to their collections.

By participating in this “mock election,” our Dedham elementary school students not only learned about the Caldecott election, but gained perspective on how an illustrator's work – in conjunction with the text – make for a wonderful story! 

The 2013 winner of the official Caldecott Medal was “This is Not My Hat” written and illustrated by Jon Klassen. Congratulations to all those involved.